Exploration day.

Today was an overcast day in Kauai so we decided to sleep in a bit and then head to Hanalei to do a little shopping and have lunch.   We walked around lots of little shops and art galleries, ate the best banana nut muffin EVER at a little coffee shop and just enjoyed strolling around.  We also ate an amazing lunch at the Hanalei Cafe...apparently a favorite spot of Pierce Brosnan!  I had fish-'n'-chips made from swordfish and Keith had a fresh grilled ahi tuna (tumbo) sandwich.

The shops at Hanalei.

Hanalei Center...where the shops are.

Hanalei Cafe....a favorite of Keith and Bethany...AND Pierce.

"on the road to Hanalei" my favorite shop of the day!

More of the Hanalei shops.

After we'd shopped until we dropped and eaten our fill of yummy fish we set out exploring. Our Kauai "Blue Book" suggested that Hideways beach was a "gem" of a beach...it warned that the hike down was a bit treacherous...even with the "steps" and guardrails...but that the beach at the bottom of the cliff was worth it.  It also mentioned that because there is limited parking (6 spaces) and the hike is tricky, that the beach is usually pretty vacant.  This was true today as there were only 2 other couples on the beach when we reached the bottom.  We climbed on some boulders, make a pitiful attempt at a sand castle and took a quick nap.

Me on the hike down...

the view of Hideways beach from about halfway down the trail.

another shot of the beach from the middle of the trail.

frolicking in the waves!  

Surveying the ocean, cliffside. 

King of the cliff.

View of the ocean from the trailhead.  The beach can be seen through the trees in the left center bottom of the picture.

After a catnap on the beach we drove down the road about a mile to visit Queens Bath.  Huge volcanic rocks create these amazing cliffs that the waves pummel.  The Queens Bath itself is a large pool in one of the cliffs.  Apparently this can be a swimming spot during the summer months, but today the waves were incredibly violent and I wouldn't have gone anywhere near them (although some local boys were thoroughly enjoying themselves in the pool.)  The highlight of the Queen's Bath adventure was a sea-turtle sighting!  We've been so lucky to see oceanic wildlife on this trip...whales, seals and a sea turtle...all we have left is a dolphin!  Hopefully we'll get to see one in the few days we have left.

ummmmm..........yet we kept on hiking.....

surveying a waterfall along the way.

Keith and the waterfall.

Ummmm......28 drownings?  Seriously? In case you can't read it all, the sign says, "Queens Bath Drownings 28.  Unexpected large waves will knock you off rocks and sweep you out to sea!"

Contemplating the sea. 

Our sea turtle friend!  (I had to zoom in on this picture many times so it's not the best).

Large, unexpected waves: exhibit A.

Local Hawaiian boys playing in the surf....large, unexpected waves: Exhibit B.

After Queen's Bath we headed back to the condo to take own baths.  :)  As I sit on the couch to blog this, Keith and I are munching on appetizers and watching the video of our helicopter flight from yesterday.  It's so cool to get to see it all again!  His mom and Rick are cooking grilled zucchini and mahi mahi for dinner!  Yummy!  Yet another amazing day on Kauai!

Aloha!

P.S.  As a side note...Keith's parents decided that they wanted a slightly more leisurely pace today and decided to hang at the condo a bit longer and then do some shopping of their own while Keith and I were out adventuring.  They ended up heading in the wrong direction, and arrived at Kapa'a instead of Hanalei, but thoroughly enjoyed their day nonethess.  :)